Hundreds of workers employed by homelessness charity St Mungo’s
have ended their long-running strike victorious after accepting
an inflation-beating pay increase.
After three months of strike action and tireless campaigning the
workers have agreed to a pay increase which works out at 10.74
per cent based on a median wage or £3,125 in cash terms. Plus,
the total financial gain includes a one-off payment of £700 for
most workers.
The cash-based deal also means the lower paid workers will get a
bigger share of the pot and Unite’s campaign of industrial action
has made certain that executive directors at the Charity agree to
a pay freeze for 2023/24.
Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “This was a
hard-fought battle resulting in victory for St. Mungo’s workers
who are dedicated to helping the homeless.”
“The workers took action because they were under huge financial
and mental pressure and they weren’t being listened to by
management.”
“Unite will continue to defend workers when employers refuse to
do so, in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions for our
members.”
St Mungo’s workers’ pay is normally pegged to local authority pay
rates under the NJC agreement but the strike action has, for the
first time, delivered a pay increase above the NJC rate.
Unite national lead officer, Onay Kasab said: “The reps and
activists have delivered a fantastic result plus hundreds of new
Unite members. The pay deal isn’t just inflation beating it goes
above and beyond previous pay deals at St Mungo’s which always
matched local authority agreements.
“The workers are to be congratulated for their resilience and
determination.”
The strike began on 30 May. The dispute involved Unite members
across southern England including in London, Bristol, Brighton,
Oxford, Bournemouth and Reading.
